The damage was too extensive to allow investigators to discover what started the fire, said Sgt. Tim York of the Maine State Fire Marshal’s office.

A firefighter spotted the flames from the station at about 1:45 p.m., but the fire at 11 Depot St. was so far along when firefighters arrived at the scene that they couldn’t save the house.

The flames already had burned up a rear wall into the ceiling and attic area, firefighters have said.

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The house, a two-and-a-half-story wooden structure built in the 1800s, was declared a total loss.

No one was home at the time. Members of homeowner Richard Norris’ family were either working or at a doctor’s appointment, firefighters have said.

Firefighters from East Millinocket, Lee, Lincoln and Medway assisted town firefighters in dousing the flames and shuttling water to the scene with a tanker truck. The fire wasn’t reported under control until about 5:25 p.m.

Fire marshal’s office investigators went to the house on Thursday night, York said.